New Edition of Mutants & Masterminds Coming Soon, Playtest Launches at End of Month

Green Ronin Publishing is making a new edition of Mutants & Masterminds. Creator Steve Kenson announced the news over on BlueSky this evening, revealing that he's working on a fourth edition of the superhero-themed RPG. According to Kenson, an "Origin" playtest edition of the new edition will be releasing in PDF at the end of the month, with a limited print run coming to Gen Con.

Perhaps the most popular superhero RPG, Mutants & Masterminds is a D20-based game system meant to be used with any level of superhero story, ranging from street-level to cosmic powered heroes. The GM sets a power level at the outset of the campaign that dictates the overall power level of characters, but players can further customize their characters within that framework using power points. The game notably allows for a large variety of superhero skills and abilities, allowing players to build custom heroes with a large degree of variation.

In recent years, Marvel has gotten into the RPG business with their own Marvel Multiverse RPG that allows character creation and play as one of dozens of superheroes from the Marvel Universe. Greater Than Games published a Sentinel Comics RPG (based on Sentinels of the Multiverse) but that is on hiatus due to that company shuttering due to tariffs.

 

[Corinnguard]

Cool. I was fan of 2e M&M thanks to the Ultimate Power pocketbook.

 

[Nobleshield]

Isn't this the same company currently begging for money over the Diamond fiasco? With what money do these grifters think they're gonna put out a new edition with???

 

[Dalekdad]

Isn't this the same company currently begging for money over the Diamond fiasco? With what money do these grifters think they're gonna put out a new edition with???

'Grifters' is a pretty strong accusation. What scam or fraud have they perpetrated?

I question how effective their appeal for funds will be, but it isn't dishonest in any way that I can see.

 

[Micah Sweet]

Isn't this the same company currently begging for money over the Diamond fiasco? With what money do these grifters think they're gonna put out a new edition with???

Grifters? How much money do you think they're going to make with a free playtest?

 

[billd91]

Isn't this the same company currently begging for money over the Diamond fiasco? With what money do these grifters think they're gonna put out a new edition with???

I expect they'll kickstarter it.
And no, they're not grifters. Nobody is being swindled or conned to help them with legal fees.

 

[Umbran]

With what money do these grifters think they're gonna put out a new edition with???

Mod note:
The insulting accusations are not terribly noble, Nobleshield. How about you keep your approach a bit more civil, please and thanks.

 

[TreChriron]

I’m honestly hoping they go much more rules light and abstract across the board. ...

I like a little crunch myself.

I have backed many Kickstarter projects from Green Ronin and bought directly from the online store (and directly from Chris Pramas at local cons), and all my transactions have been fantastic. Not sure where the idea that GR are "grifters" came from, but my experience has been the opposite. They do good work.

 

[overgeeked]

I like a little crunch myself.

M&M3E is what did me in for crunch. I played the hell out of every edition of that game and even freelanced for Green Ronin on the line. The math and crunch were just overwhelming.

I have backed many Kickstarter projects from Green Ronin and bought directly from the online store (and directly from Chris Pramas at local cons), and all my transactions have been fantastic. Not sure where the idea that GR are "grifters" came from, but my experience has been the opposite. They do good work.

Chris and Co are good people and absolutely put out top-notch work.

 

[Lord_Blacksteel]

Anyone who wants rules-light Steve Kenson superhero rules should be checking out "Icons", which has been out for about 15 years now. It's an excellent game when you don't want to dive into the full crunchy points experience of M&M.

That said, looking forward to the new playtest even if I'm not sure we really need a new version. It's been about 15 years for M&M 3E now so we can't really be surprised one is coming. Steve did say at one point if he ever did a new edition he would go back to 2E's pre-built powers in the main book approach with the power building system split off on its own. I'm wondering if that's still how he feels?

 

[Desdichado]

'Grifters' is a pretty strong accusation. What scam or fraud have they perpetrated?

I question how effective their appeal for funds will be, but it isn't dishonest in any way that I can see.

I suspect it's a characterization of them asking for money in the first place for a legal project that everyone who's familiar with the legalities of it says is a Hail Mary at best. It is a bit shady to ask for money to make a Hail Mary legal play. Maybe not dishonest, unless they're mischaracterizing their chances at legal reprieve. I have no idea; I haven't looked at their kickstarter and am not interest in doing so.

I wouldn't call them grifters exactly, but it's not a great look either.